Curbed Cup Final Four: (2) Fishtown vs. (3) Old City

Fishtown

Like its neighboring Northern Liberties, some might argue that Fishtown’s 15 minutes of fame is long gone. Not so. While new and old establishments like Johnny Brenda’s, Frankford Hall, and La Colombe have kept this neighborhood humming, there is a long list of projects planned for this hipster haven. There’s a new boutique hotel in the works next to Frankford Hall, as well as several rooms above the trendy Wm. Mulherin's Sons restaurant. Retail, residential, and restaurants are poised to transform Frankford Avenue under the El station, and a massive rock-climbing gym will be an anchor tenant in the Ed Corner building adaptive reuse project. No wonder folks are flocking to this hipster haven. Says one resident: “There’s a good mix of renters and homeowners, newbies and lifers. [...] I love being so close to so many small business, artists, musicians, and makers.”

Photo by A. Ricketts for Visit Philadelphia

Old City

There’s no denying the allure of Old City, the historic neighborhood that’s experienced an impressive renaissance over the past few years. Visitors and locals are charmed by its historic sites that are neighbors to a plethora of art galleries, boutiques, and increasingly more trendy restaurants like the Little Lion. But new builds are finding their way into the fabric of this neighborhood, too, from the Bridge to the One Water Street. With the opening of the Museum of the American Revolution in April 2017, there’s no doubt that this neighborhood’s popularity is far from over.